Pallet rack



S. SAUL, JR

PALLET RACK Dec. 4, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 l INVENTOR. SAMUEL SAUL JR BY Ml M] ATTRNE.

Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITED OFFICE BALLET RACK-1- Samuel` Saul; J-.,. Pttsburgh,--Pa., assilgnor -to lieconstruction Eiiace Corperation;n Cleveland,- Unida-corporation of tle Un'tea States' Appieationsepfember 24, 1'9489S'il/1N02 50956 ThisA invention relates to av storage rackl lfor material handling pallets,-

The use'of pallets in connection with-material handling operations has: become. increasingly common. Such pallets are provided .Wi-tha material supporting surfacewhich is elevated to provide .space for the reception of-fthe :arms of `a .fork-lift truck lfor lifting .and transportingthe pallet and materials carriedthereby;Y The pallets may be either of the -attype for.l handlingarticles which may be stackedthereon, or-may be provided with. collapsible side Walls .for-reentaining articles of irregular shape therein; Either type is usually arrangedA so that the pallets and materials carried thereby may-.be stacked in superimposed .1 relation: to thereby occupy a minimum of space.

The use of pallets expedites-the-handlingsof materials and the stacking featureconserves space. However, in many cases,..it -isffr'equently necessary-to have immediate access-to thema-.- terialsy on a given pallet suchas for the-purposeof performing machining or.Workingoperationson such materials. In the event that-thegivenpallet is in a stacked pile of.- pallets and-locatedadjacent the bottomof the-pile,` itis-.necessary to remove the pallets overlying .the givenpallet before access thereto may be had.. Itisthere after necessary-to restack the pallets-Which-were removed to provide access .to Vthe.given-pallet. Obviously, this condition results .in a consi-de?? able expenditure ofv time, andan undesirable increase in the cost ofthe material-handling operation.

In machine shops and other,- places-.Where pallets are used-for handling-v materials onWhicha-seres of Working .operations -are-tobeper\ formed", supporting structures. .having-.5` shelves providing individual supports for--pallet'shave been employed in order to eliminatethehand-ling cost due.- to the stacking andunstackingfof-I a plurality-of pallets incident to gai-ning .access` to a -given pallet.- pallets and the Weight of the-articles carried thereon,- such structures. must be--very large andcapable of carrying extremely heavy. loads.- I-Ieretofore,l .such structures -havef beenf-con-` structed of permanently .connected shelves-andsupports Which when once installed-are:incapableY of being moved to another position. With.suchl pallet structures, it is frequently necessary., that a fork-lift truck used for moving ,the vpalle'fravela long distance in order toV transport-the maf-- terials to a point where the working operation; is-tozbe performed thereon;l In-iordento avoid By reason of the sizeofmthe 2. the-:necessity of having afork-lift truck travel over-'a long-distance,- it has been necessary to providesupporting structures of the character referred ltorlocated'- at strategic -points thereby resulting in inefficient use of the permanent structures 'andy the use of considerable oor space.-

Onefoff ther-principal objects of this-invention is--to-provide-a rack-forstoring loaded pallets in which the individual parts thereof may bereadily taken apart and reassembled -Where needed.`

Another-object of this invention is to prov-ide a-rack-for storing .pallets in Which-the positionof the pallet supporting yshelves-may be readily adjustedf `vertically to vary the space therebetween in accordance with the height of the materials von1the pallets and to thereby utilize space more efficiently.

- A fur-ther object of the invention is-to provide a apalletf rack having vertical supporting frames soarranged-that each frame Will provide a com'-Y mon2r support Vfor pallet-supporting shelving on oppositesides thereof- A A still further object is to providefa'pallet` rack --in Which the pallet supporting shelving-.isemployed -tosecure the vertical supportingframes therefor Vin spaced-relation.-- l

A--stillfurther object of the-inventionv is --to provide a pallet rack having. pal-let AsupportingI shelving 1Which is readily adjustable -ina verticaldirection -With respect to `'vertical-ly extending supports therefor.v Y

Other Y objects and advantages of the invention-Will become -apparent from the-followingdescription.

In--the drawings there isshovvn a preferred embodiment of the invention. In-this showing:-

Fig. v1 .-is--a---front View of a palletrack conf structed Vin-accordance With the principles of thisinvention; I

Fig..- 2 4is -aside elevational-'view of- -the rack shown ivn -Fig.-.-1; A

Fig.. 3 is a .top4 plan vieW of a -pallet supportingv shelf Fig. 4--is an enlarged-fragmentary plan-view supported -by a supportingstandard ;-A f

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional---vieW-illus-V- trating -in ldetai-l the vmannerin which the-supporting .-:sta-ndar-dsr are notched to provide Yhook-SS Fig. 8 is a top plan view illustrating a modified pallet rack support.

Referring to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the rack comprises a plurality of vertical supporting frames I so arranged that each adjacent pair of frames provides a support for shelvesr2 extendingtherebetween in a manner which will become apparent. The frames I are secured together by the shelves 2 in spaced relation, and the shelves 2 are adjustable vertically with respect to the frames I. Each of the frames I comprises a pair of vertically extending supporting standards 3 and 4 which are secured together in spaced relation by bracing members having welded connections at their ends, to the supporting standards 3 and 4. In this manner each of the frames I is an integral unit comprising the vertical supporting standards `3 and 4 and the bracing member 5.

The structure of the supporting standards 3 and 4 will be best understood by referring to Fig. 6. In this showing, the numeral 6 designates a vertically extending U-shaped channel section having outwardly extending flanges I and a connecting web S. A pair of L-shaped channel sections 9 and I0 are secured to the U-shaped channel section 5 with flanges Il and I2 abutting against and welded to the web 8. rThe free flanges I3 and I4 of the angle sections 9 and I9 project outwardly from the section 6 and in a direction opposite to that of its flanges The specific arrangement of the channels 6, 9, and I@ is desirable inthat a rigid vertically extending supporting standard is provided thereby, and in which the flanges of the channels reinforce the supporting standard against bending.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flanges I3 and I4 are provided with a plurality of notches I5 at spaced vertical intervals. The notches I5 preferably have a shape or contour as loesl-l shown in Fig. 7. From this showing it will be noted that each of the notches is formed to provide a hook I6 having a surface II tapering downwardly and inwardly from the tip of the hook I6. The upper edge of the notch l5 is formed to provide a ilat surface I8 extending at right angles inwardly from the vertical edge I9 of the flange in which the notch is formed. The surface I8'is connected with the inner surface of the notch I5 by aV curved surface 2| for a purpose to be described.

As best shown in Figs. 3 through 5, each of the shelves 2 is formed from a plurality of L-shaped angle sections. Each of the shelves 2 comprises a pair of parallel angle sections 22 and 23 and a plurality of similar angle sections 24 extending between and at right angles to the sections 22 and 23. The sections 22, 23, and 24are so arranged that each has a flange 25 lying in a common plane to provide a supporting surface for pallets to be carried thereby. Each of the sections 24 :has one end connected to the depending flange 26 of the section 22 by welding. The flanges 25 at the other ends of the sections 24 are cut away so that the vertical flanges 21 may extend underneath the flange 25 of the section 23 into engagement with the vertical flange `28 of the section 23. The projecting ends of the flanges 2 are connected by welding to the flanges 28 and 25 of the section 23. rI'he sections 22 and 23 have mounting members 29 at each end thereof thereby providing identical mounting members at each of the four corners of the shelf 2.

The structure of the mounting members 29 will be best understood by referring toFigs. 4 and 5. From this showing it will be noted that the hori- 4 zontal flange 25 is cut away along the lines 39 and 3l. A clip 32 having inwardly projecting flanges 33 and 34 welded to the flanges 25 and 25 is secured in position at right angles to the flanges 25 and 26. The clip 32 is provided with an opening 35 through which a mounting bolt may be passed in a manner to be described. The clip 32 is provided with a cut out part 36 through which a mounting clip 31 extends. The clip 3l comprises a body part 38 having inwardly turned ears 39 at the ends thereof. The ears 39 are connected to the vertical flange 26 by welding and the upper edge of the part 38 abuts against the undersurfaceV of the flange 25 to which it is preferably secured as by welding. The clip 3l is so formed that the inner surface 40 thereof has a slope correspondingto the surface Il of the hook I5. rThe clips31 are receivable on the hooks I5 as best shown in Fig. 7. When the clips 31 are thus mounted on the hooks I5, the shelf to which the clipsv3'I are secured'will be supported bythe flanges in which the notches I5 are formed'. The particular shape ofthe notches I5 will prevent accidental disengagement Vof the clips 37 by reason of a jarring action. In the event that, the shelf isY accidentallystruck in a manner which would apply an upward force thereto to disengage the clip I'I from the hook I6, the curved surface 2l Vof the notch I5 will guide the flange 25V upwardly into engagement with the flat part I8.V Further upward movement of the flange 25 will thus be prevented, and as soon as the force causing such upward movement is dissipated, the shelf will move downwardly into the position shownin Fig. 7. Y

In assembling the pallet rack, two of the frames I are placed in vertical position, and a pair of shelves 2 are placed with the clips 31 of the mounting members 29 over the hooks I6 on the adjacent flanges I3 and I4. l When two of the shelves 2 are thus mounted on a pair of supporting frames I, the shelves will be effective through the connecting members 29 to secure the frames rigidly together in spaced relation. It is preferred that the top and bottom shelves of the rack be bolted to the supporting standards 3 and 4. To thisv end, the top and bottom portions of each of the ilanges I3 and I4 are provided with reinforcingmembers 4I welded thereto, and having an opening` 42 extending through the part 4! and the flange to which it is connected. The opening 42'is so positioned that/it'will be aligned with the opening 35 in the reinforcing member 32 provided as part of the connection 29. A bolt 43 is then passed through thealigned openings 42 and 35, and a nut 44 is applied to the bolt 43 for se` curing the parts rigidly together. Only the top and bottom shelves 2 need be provided with reinforcing clips 32.

When two of the supporting frames I are secured in position byV supporting shelves 22, an additional section of rack shelving may be pro-V vided'by the use of one `additional frame I and additional'shelving 2.v To form the additional section itis merely'necessary to fasten shelving to the notched flangeY of the supporting frame I already in position, and to the notched ange of the frame I being added. In this manner, as many additional sections of rack shelving may be added as is required. It will be-noted that, in such case, each of the frames I intermediate the end frames of the pallet rack will provide a common support for shelving on opposite sides thereof. Y

The modification shownin Fig. 8 is identical to` atmete that Atheilanges 1. .vof the ,supporting standards 4 are spaced vfurther apart 'to ncrfea's" he'distance between the flanges] Sand ,MQ Thssreduires that the length of the angle section Y22 be decreased to decrease the distance ybetween the mounting members aattheends. thereof. Thisenables the mounting members.29.,carried,fby the section 22.to pass between the. supporting standards 3 with theshelving 2 ina, horizontal position. With thestructure shown .in Fig. 8, the..shelves.2 lmay be placedina horizontal. .position on the.. arms Kof al fork-lift truck and..moved directly Ainwardly thereby toaposition for supporting engagement on the standards 3 and 4 From the foregoing Yit will be apparentthat there is provided a rack'ffor'fs'toring loaded-pallets which'is rigid inconstru'ction, andi-which may be readily taken apart and reassembledin another position. Attention is particularly invited to the fact that the frames I and the shelving 2 provide rectangular openings at the front of the rack through which loaded pallets may be inserted and withdrawn from a position in which they are supported on the shelves 2, this movement being performed by the arms of a conventional fork-lift truck. Strips 45 are connected in position between the standards ll at the rear of the rack for the purpose of limiting movement of the pallets to the rear of the rack. Attention is also directed to the fact that the structure of the supporting standards 3 and 4 and the shelf mounting structure 29 enables the vertical positions of the shelves to be readily adjusted with respect to their sup-porting standards 3 and 4. In this manner the size of the rectangular openings at the front of the rack and the space between the shelves may be readily adjusted in accordance with the height of the material on the pallets. This enables the .most efficient utilination of the space occupied by the pallet rack. It will also be noted that the manner in which the shelf 2 operates to secure the frames together enables the rack to be formed of a minimum of p-arts with a minimum of material. The cost of constructing the rack is thereby reduced and it may be consequently assembled and taken apart with very little effort in a short time.

Although the shelf channels 22 and 23 have been described in the preferred embodiment as being rigidly connected together by the angle sections 2t, it will be understood that the connecting channels 24 may be omitted and the channels 22 and 23 may be employed as a support for shelving mounted or loosely supported thereon. In such case, the channels 22 and 23 would still function to space and secure the vertical supports 3 together through the connecting members 29 at the ends thereof. Y

While I have illustrated and described one specic embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this is merely by way of illustration, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

l. A supporting rack comprising spaced parallel vertical supporting frames, each of said frames comprising a pair of vertically extending U-shaped channel sections respectively having a web provided with a pairof L-shaped channel sections welded thereto with free flanges extending in a common direction away from said webs and with said free flanges notched to provide hooks4 therealong, and .,bracing.. members securing saidU -shaped channel sections together in spaced relation, andv a. plurality. of shelves.` respectively having mounting elements at eachv` of thevfour corners thereof, said mounting. elements .being receivableover thev hooks on said supporting. frames vto mount theshelveson said frames, said shelves whenmounted onsaidframes being effective tosecure. said frames` rigidly together` in spaced relation,` the L-shaped sections at the rear of each of said frames being spaced apart a greater distance .f than those at they-front, andv the mounting` elements at the rearcorners `of each shelf being-spaced.A apart a distance less than the distance between. theH L-shaped sections at the front -of adjacent -frames to facilitate vmounting theshelves onthe frames.-

2. A supportingrack for-palletsand the like comprising-spaced parallel verticalsupporting frames, each of-fsaid frames including front and rear vertical uprightswrespectively having a pair of spaced forwardly projecting parallel flanges, each of said flanges having notches providing hooks at spaced intervals therealong, and a plurality of shelves respectively having mounting elements at each of the four corners thereof for supporting engagement With hooks on adjacent front and rear flanges of adjacent frames, the flanges on said rear uprights being spaced apart a greater distance than those on the froni-l uprights, the mounting elements at the rear of each of said shelves being spaced apart a distance less than the distance between adjacent flanges on the front uprights of adjacent frames to facilitate the mounting of the shelves on said frames.

3. A supporting rack for pallets and the like comprising spaced parallel vertical supporting frames, each of said frames including front and rear vertical uprights respectively having a pair of spaced forwardly projecting parallel flanges, each of said flanges having notches providing hooks at spaced intervals therealong, and a plurality of shelves respectively having mounting elements at each of the four corners thereof for supporting engagement with hooks on adjacent front and rear flanges of adjacent frames, the flanges on said rear uprights being spaced apart a greater distance than those on the front uprights, the mounting elements at the rear of each of said shelves being spaced apart a distance less than the distance between adjacent flanges on the front uprights of adjacent frames to facilitate the mounting of the shelves on said frames, said mounting elements being formed to provide a pair of depending and oppositely facing surfaces adapted to be projected between the hooks of adjacent uprights and lowered vertically into engagement therewith to form an interlock.

4. A supporting rack for pallets and the like comprising a pair of spaced parallel vertically extending frames, each of said frames having at both its front and rear edge a flange projecting forwardly toward the front of the frame whereby said rack is provided with a vertically extending and forwardly projecting flange at each of its four corners, said flanges having notches at spaced intervals along their vertical lengths to provide a plurality of hooks at spaced intervals therealong, the two flanges at the rear of the rack being spaced apart a distance less than the two flanges at the front of the rack, and a plurality of shelves respectively having mounting elements at each of the four corners thereof for supporting engagement on hooks on each of said flanges, the mounting elements at the rear of each of said shelves being spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the flanges at the front of said frames to facilitate the mounting of said shelves thereon.

5. An adjustable supporting rack for heavily loaded receptacles comprising a frame having four. parallel spaced uprights arranged in two pairs, one pair being forwardly of the other, each pair having a series of equallyspaced upwardly pointing hooks thereon, and a shelf having front and rear structural sections the ends of Which protrude beyond thesides of the shelf and of an overall length greater than the spacing between the hooks of one of said pairs of uprights, and fastening elements formed to provide a pair of depending and oppositely facing surfaces on the protruding ends of the front and rear sections, said elements being adapted to be projected between the hooks of adjacent uprights and lowered vertically into engagement therewith to form an interlock.

SAMUEL SAUL, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Winslow Apr. 5, 1887 Ball June 11,1901 Krag Aug. 29, 1905 Medart et al Mar. 16, 1926 Caramella Apr. 21, 1931 Jarvis Apr. 26, 1932 Saul Apr. 20, 1943 4Kline Aug. 24, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 7, 1934 

